Rural post offices across the country shut, Modi govt
turns a blind eye

Postal
employees in Mananthavady in Wayanad in Kerala sit on an indefinite strike
demanding regularisation as government employees. Rural postal employees across
the country have been protesting for eight days

Rural postal
employees across the country have been protesting for eight days, but the
Narendra Modi-led central government seems to have turned a blind eye to their
concerns

In a show of unity across the
country, more than 2,70,000 postal employees in rural areas have been
protesting across the country since May 22, demanding regularisation as
government employees and implementation of the Kamlesh Chandra Committee
reforms submitted in November 2016, but the government seems unperturbed by the
indefinite strike or their demands.

The protest by Gramin Dak Sevaks’
(GDS) on Tuesday reached its eighth day, but “nothing concrete” has been done
by the Narendra Modi-government, alleged All India Postal Employees
Union—Gramin Dak Sevak (AIPEU-GDS). The strike has led to the shut down of more
than 1,29,000 post offices across the country and the postal employees have
declared an indefinite strike until their demands are met.

Gramin Dak Sevaks are
extra-departmental agents recruited by the postal department to serve in rural
areas. They have been demanding pay and facilities at par with regular postal
department employees for years.

The
Union Government had constituted a one-man Kamlesh Chandra Committee in the
Seventh Pay Commission to study the wage structure of the rural postal
employees and review and suggest changes in existing wage structures,
facilities and other social security benefits provided to them.

The
committee, had in its report, recommended the minimum wage of the rural postal
officers be made ₹10,000 and a maximum of ₹35,480, the abolition of the 50
years age limit, an annual hike of 3% and a children’s education allowance of
Rs 6,000 per annum. They had introduced a risk and hardship allowance of ₹500
per month for those working in the special areas. The Committee had increased
the ex-gratia gratuity to ₹5,00,000 from ₹60,000, while also suggesting that
the scope of the Circle Welfare Fund (CWF) scheme should include immediate
family members.

“The
government has been offering nothing to us. So, we are going to continue with
the indefinite protest,” says P Pandurangarao, the General Secretary of
AIPEU-GDS.

The
government has been stating that they require at least three months to
implement the suggested reforms. “But when they have done nothing in the past
18 months, we have no confidence in them anymore and that’s why we have
demanded it in writing,” says Pandurangarao. “But they have refused,” added Pandurangarao.

“Even though we are government employees, our life is worse
than daily-wage labourers,” says Pandurangarao, adding “we get no subsidies, no
benefits and have no choice but to survive with a meagre salary. The government
does not even provide us with basic facilities such as a house for an office or
the electricity bill. It’s the head Post Master’s responsibility to arrange for
a place for the ‘Dak Ghar’ (Post Office)”

Although GDS’ are central
government employees, they are considered temporary employees which deprives
them of various benefits such as the retirement benefit, pensions, etc. “After
working for 35 to 40 years, we are given a meager retirement benefit of Rs.1,00,000. Our per day salary is not more than Rs.300 and every
year we get an increment ofRs.50 to Rs.60.
We get no other benefits,” Pandurangarao says. “How is it possible for us to
survive like this,” he asks.

All India working
president of AIPEU-GDS, Virendra Sharma says, “There have been at least five
rounds of talks, but nothing conclusive has come out of it. Our demand is
simple; implement the reforms suggested by the Committee constituted by you
(the government). The protests have affected lives in rural India and we don’t
wish to continue, but the government is simply not ready to listen.”

“On June 1, we will
protest outside the Ministry of Communications’ office in New Delhi. We will
not give in even if they turn a blind eye to us, they (the government) will
have to listen to us,” says Sharma.//copy//Click Here to view the article

All General Secretaries, Circle Secretaries and Divisional/Branch Secretaries of NFPE
Unions are requested to make all solidarity programmes in support of
GDS Strike including one day Hunger Fast at all work places on 31st May 2018 and March to Sanchar Bhawan, Communication Minister' office on 1st June 2018 a grand success.

All nearby circles and Divisions are requested to participate in large number.

ORGANIZE ONE DAY HUNGER FAST IN FRONT OF MAJOR POST OFFICES
ON 31st MAY 2018, THURSDAY, 10 AM TO 5 PM

JOIN THE SANCHAR BHAWAN MARCH (MARCH TO
COMMUNICATIONS MINISTER’S OFFICE NEW DELHI) IN LARGE NUMBERS ON 1st JUNE
2018 AND MAKE IT A GRAND SUCCESS

Dear Comrades,

As
you are aware the indefinite strike of GDS Unions (AIPEU-GDS, AIGDSU, NUGDS
& BEDEU) entered the 8th day today. All India strike percentage
is 96%. Five rounds of discussions held with Secretary, Department of Posts,
Additional Director General, Posts and conciliation meetings of Regional Labour
Commissioner failed due to the adamant and negative attitude of the Government
and Department. As per the call of NFPE and all affiliates of NFPE,
departmental employees in Postal department organised black badge campaign and
protest demonstration as solidarity support to the GDS strike. In five states
(Kerala, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and West Bengal) departmental
employees also organised solidarity strike eventhough in four states
(Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and West Bengal) they have withdrawn the
solidarity strike on the fourth day due to compelling reason. In Kerala
departmental employees of NFPE and FNPO are continuing their strike. In all
states including those states where the departmental employees have withdrawn
the solidarity strike, 100% GDS employees are continuing their strike.

Confederation
of Central Government employees & Workers has already given call for daily
demonstration in front of Postal and RMS offices and also extend full support
and solidarity to the strike.

As
the strike is continuing Confederation National Secretariat and NFPE Federal
Secretariat has decided to organize mass hunger fast in front of major Post
office/RMS offices on 31st May 2018 Thursday from 10 AM to 5 PM. It
is also decided to mobilise maximum number of employees from Delhi and nearby
states in the Sanchar Bhawan March already announced by the striking GDS Unions
on 1st June 2018 Friday at 10:30 AM.

All
affiliates and State/District Level Coordinating Committees of Confederation
and NFPE are requested to organize the above mentioned programmes in an effective
manner with biggest participation of employees.

NON
– REVISION OF RATE OF HOSPITAL PATIENT CARE ALLOWANCE TO THE STAFF WORKING AT
REGIONAL AYURVEDA RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR LIFE STYLE RELATED DISORDERS(RARILSD),
POOJAPPARA, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM (KERALA) – REG(REPLY
FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE)

Govt. of India has not included 2.76 lakhs Gramin Dak Sevaks
(GDS) of the Postal department under the purview of 7th Central Pay
Commission. Govt’s stand is that GDS are not Civil Servants but are Extra
Departmental Employees. After much pressure and agitations by Postal
Federations finally Government appointed a separate Committee for revision of
wages and service conditions of GDS, headed by a retired Postal Board Member
Shri Kamalesh Chandra.

2. Service conditions of GDS are pathetic. No pay scale is
granted instead Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA) is granted. Minimum
monthly allowance for 3 hours is Rs.2295- plus DA and maximum monthly allowance
for hours is Rs.3635 plus DA. No other allowances such as HRA, Children
Education Allowance etc., are granted. Rent of the building in which Branch
Post Office is housed is to be paid by the Branch Post Master (BPM) from his
pocket. No maternity leave is granted instead 90 days leave salary is granted
from Welfare Fund. No medical reimbursement or Medical Insurance Scheme. Only 20days paid leave is granted in a year.
No time bound promotion except examination based promotion to limited number of
Postmen & Group-D vacancies. No pension is granted and GDS service is not
counted towards pension.

In 2011 a Contributory Pension Scheme is introduced with
contribution of Rs.200/- each by the employee and the department. But the pension
from this insurance annuity based scheme is meager, less than Rs.1000/- per
month. In short the wages and service conditions are deplorable.

3. It is this background; the Kamalesh Chandra Committee
submitted its report on 24-11-2016. Most of the recommendations of the
Committee are positive. Minimum pay recommended was Rs.10,000/- and maximum
Rs.14,500/- plus DA. Composite Allowance in lieu of building rent &
Children education Allowance were recommended. Maternity leave for 26 weeks and
one week paternity leave, Time bound three promotions on completion of 12,24
& 36 years of service, 30 days ordinary leave, five days emergency leave
etc., are also recommended.

4.Eventhough the Committee Report is submitted to Govt. on
24-11-2016, even after a lapse of 18 months, the report is not yet implemented.
In the case of departmental employees, wage revision as per 7th CPC
Report was already implemented from 01-01-2016. Unjustified discrimination is
shown towards GDS. As a result, the discontentment and protest among the GDS is
growing day by day. NFPE & AIPEU-GDS has conducted various agitational programmes
including one day strike on 23-08-2017 and five days continuous dharna at Delhi
demanding immediate implementation of positive recommendations of Kamalesh
Chandra Committee Report. Other Federations and GDS Unions too conducted their
own agitational programmes. Inspite of all these, implementation of the
Committee Report is delayed inordinately. The All India Conference of AIPEU-GDS
held at Allahabad in March 2018, reviewed whole situation and decided to
organize indefinite strike in the month of May 2018.

5.It is in this back ground, the indefinite strike notice was
served by four GDS unions. First BEDEU (BMS) served notice for indefinite
strike. Then AIGDSU and NUGDS (INTUC) gave notice for indefinite strike from
22-05-2018. As other GDS Unions had given indefinite strike notice, AIPEU-GDS
(NFPE) also decided to service indefinite strike notice from the same date
i.e., 22-05-2018 in consultation with NFPE.

Simultaneously, NFPE
issued instructions to all Branch / Division / Circle Unions to extend full
support and solidarity to the GDS strike by organizing daily protest
demonstrations and attending duty by wearing black-badges. In five States viz.,
Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana & West Bengal departmental
employees’ Unions also joined the strike from 22-05-2018.

6.Indefinite strike commenced on 22-05-2018. 100% GDS in all
States went on strike. Out of 1,55,000 post offices, 1,29,500 post offices are
Branch Post Offices manned by GDS. All the 1,29,500 Post offices remained
closed. Out of five lakhs postal employees 2.76 lakhs are Gramin Dak Sevaks 90
– 95% of GDS went on strike from 22-05-2018 and their percentage increased day
by day and came to near total. Regarding Departmental employees, the solidarity
strike from 22-05-2018 conducted in Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Telangana and West
Bengal withdrawn on the fourth day due to compelling reasons, but the entire
GDS in these States are continuing their Strike. In Kerala, departmental
employees are continuing their solidarity strike even today.

7.After giving the strike notice, till, date four round of
negotiations took place. First round discussions held with Additional Director
General, Department of Posts. Second round of talks held with Secretary,
Department of Posts. Third and fourth round of conciliation proceedings was
held by Regional Labour Commissioner (Central), New Delhi. All these
discussions failed due to the totally negative and adamant attitude of the Govt.
and Postal Authorities and hence the strike is continuing. All the four GDS Unions
are on strike and it is near total in almost all States. The functioning of the
rural postal services is paralyzed as 80% of the post offices are closed and
100% GDS are on strike.

All Circle/Divisional
and Branch Secretaries of NFPE affiliated unions.

Dear Comrade,

As you are aware that
the entire GDS employees of the Department of Post are on Indefinite Strike
since 22.05.2018. All GDS unions i.e. AIPEUGDS, AIGDSU,NUGDS have joined
together. BPEF-GDS Union is also on strike since 14.05.2018.

NFPE has already
declared solidarity and all types of help and co-operation to make GDS strike total
success. In some Circles i.e. Kerala, Bengal, Tamilnadu, AP&Telangana GDS,
regular employees have also joined strike as solidarity strike.

In Kerala, Bengal and
Tamilnadu regular employees strike still continue.

Four rounds of
discussions have already taken place between Administration and GDS unions.

As no fruitful result
has came out of the negotiations, therefore, all GDS unions have decided to
continue their strike till the achievement of their demands i.e. implementation
of Kamelesh Chandra Committee report and membership verification.

Further GDS unions
have declared the following programme of action:

1.Massive Rally at all
Circle Head Quarters and submission of memorandum to Governors on date 28.05.2018.

2.Mass Dharna in front of
Communications Minister’s office at Sanchar Bhawan New Delhi on 1st June 2018.

NFPE has already
declared massive demonstration at all work places daily during lunch hours and
wearing of Black Badges daily to protest inordinate delay in implementation of
GDS Committee Report.

W as NFPE appeal to
the entire leadership and membership of all NFPE affiliated unions to make all
the programmes as mentioned above a grand success.

We appeal particularly
to the Comrades of nearby Circles and Divisions to participate in large number
on 01.06.2018 in Massive Dharna in front of Communications Minister’s Office,
Sanchar Bhawan, Patel Chowk , New Delhi.

LTC FACILITIES TO THE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
SERVING IN STATES OF THE NORTH-EASTERN REGION, LADAKH REGION OF STATE OF JAMMU
& KASHMIR AND IN UNION TERRITORIES OF ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLAND AND
LAKSHADWEEP GROUP OF ISLANDS-IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDATION OF 7thCPC(Click the link below to view)http://utilities.cept.gov.in/dop/pdfbind.ashx?id=2839

·We on behalf of NFPE appeal to entire rank and file to
extend full solidarity support and help for success of GDS Strike and observe
Lunch hour demonstration every day and wear black badge in protest of
inordinate delay in implementation of GDS Committee Report.

·Extend all help and participate in the programmes
declared by GDS unions on 28-05-2018 & 01-06-2018.

·We appeal to the all members of NFPE Unions of nearby
Circles and Divisions of Delhi to participate in large number in Mass Dharna in
front of Sanchar Bhawan on 01.06.2018.